Bottle

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods of attaching a first cosmetic bottle to a second cosmetic bottle are described. The first bottle includes a container arranged to hold a cosmetic product and a cover that is removably attached the container. The cover includes one or more magnetic elements arranged to attach the cover of the first bottle to a cover of a second bottle. In some embodiments, the one or more magnetic elements may include one or more magnets.

FIELD

The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to bottles and more particularly to bottles arranged to hold cosmetic products, such as nail polish.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Cosmetic bottles, such as nail polish bottles, include a container that holds the cosmetic product and a cover that is removably attached to the bottle. The cover may include an applicator for applying the cosmetic to the user, such as to the user's finger. Such cosmetic bottles are usually stored by placing the bottles next to one another, such as in a container, drawer or on a shelf.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a first bottle includes a first container adapted to hold a cosmetic product, and a first cover removably attached to the first container. The first cover includes one or more magnetic elements arranged to attach the first cover of the first bottle to a cover of a second bottle.

According to another embodiment, an assembly includes a first receptacle having a first container and a first cover having one or more magnets, and a second receptacle having a second container and a second cover having one or more magnetic elements. The first receptacle is attachable to the second receptacle via the one or more magnets of the first cover and the one or more magnetic elements of the second cover.

According to another embodiment, a first bottle includes a first container, a cosmetic material disposed in the first container, and a first cover removably attached to the first container. The first cover includes one or more magnetic elements arranged to attach the first cover of the first bottle to a cover of a second bottle.

According to another embodiment, an assembly includes a first receptacle having a first container and a first cover removably attached to the first container, and a second receptacle having a second container and second cover removably attached to the second container. The first cover and the second cover are directly attached to one another.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features of the present teachings can be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic bottle according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a horizontally arranged stack of cosmetic bottles according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a vertically arranged stack of cosmetic bottles according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a cosmetic bottle according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic front view of a cosmetic bottle cover;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional schematic front and rear views of a cosmetic bottle cover;

FIG. 7 is partial cutaway schematic view of a cosmetic bottle according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway schematic view of a cosmetic applicator according to one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a cosmetic container according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stack of cosmetic bottles according to one embodiment; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are side and top views of a cosmetic bottle according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As is known, cosmetic bottles, such as nail polish bottles, include a container for holding the cosmetic (e.g., the nail polish) and a cover that is removably attached to the container. The cover may include an applicator that a user may use to apply the cosmetic, such as to the user's nails. In some embodiments, when the cover is attached to the container, the applicator is at least partially received in the container.

Typically, to store cosmetic bottles (e.g., nail polish bottles), the user places the bottles into a container, a drawer, or onto a shelf. In such instances, the bottles are placed next to one another, with a bottom of each container supported by the drawer, shelf or container, and the cover directed upwardly. Such an arrangement of the bottles may take up a lot of space as the bottles are horizontally arranged. The bottles also may be easily knocked over, for example when the user tries to grab one of the bottles, or another item, off of the shelf or out of the drawer or container. As will be appreciated, while bottles may be placed on top of one another, such an arrangement is not stable unless the bottles are supported around the sides, such as in a small box or a drawer.

Applicant has recognized that advantages may be realized if one or more cosmetic bottles are stackable on top of one another for storage. For example, in some embodiments, a first bottle may be stacked on top of a second bottle, with the first bottle resting stably on top of the second bottle. In such embodiments, a side of the first bottle may be stacked on top of a side of the second bottle. Applicant has also recognized that advantages may be realized if the bottles are attachable to one another. In such an example, at least a portion of the side of the first bottle may be attached to at least a portion of the side of the second bottle. In some embodiments, one or more bottles in the stack may be attached to one another such that the user may simply pick up and move the entire stack of bottles. In such an example, the stack may be stored horizontally or vertically. Such a stack also may be placed on a shelf, drawer or in a container for storage.

For purposes herein, objects being attachable to one another includes objects which are removably attachable to one another. For example, a user may detach removably attachable first and second bottles by pulling them apart from each other. In such embodiments, the first and second bottles are attachable to one another such that the first and second bottles remain connected unless and until the user separates the bottles. For example, the bottles may remain attached to one another when the user moves the stack of bottles from one location to another. In some embodiments, the bottles in the stack may be rearranged and reattached to one another. For example, in a stack having three bottles of nail polish, the user may remove the middle bottle from the stack for use and then attach the top and bottom bottles together. In some embodiments, the bottles are attached to one another via only the cover of the bottle. For example, the cover of the first bottle may have one or more magnetic elements arranged to be attracted to one or more magnetic elements in the cover of the second bottle. In such an embodiment, upon interaction between the one or more magnetic elements in the first cover and the one or more magnetic elements in the second cover, the first and second bottles may be attached to one another.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a nail polish bottle 100 according to the present disclosure. As shown in this figure, the bottle 100 includes a container 102 within which a nail polish lacquer 104 is disposed, and a cover 106 that is removably attachable to the container.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the bottle 100 may be disc-shaped. For example, the bottle may have a substantially cylindrical cross-section. As will be appreciated, the bottle may have other suitable shapes in other embodiments. For example, the bottle may be substantially rectangular, square, triangular, other polygonal or otherwise suitably shaped. As shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, a bottom surface 108 of the bottle is at least partially flat so that the container may rest stably on a surface, such as on a shelf or in a drawer. As will be appreciated, the bottom surface 108 of the bottle may be downwardly-facing when the bottle is placed on the surface.

Although the bottle is shown as having a cover that is substantially the same size as the container, the cover and container may have different sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the cover may be half the size (e.g., half the height) of the container. The container and cover also may be different shapes relative to one another. For example, the cover may have a substantially semi-circle shape while the container may have a square or rectangular shape. As will be appreciated, other suitable shapes and size combinations may be used in other embodiments.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure in which the nail polish bottles are arranged in a stack. In FIG. 3A, the nail polish bottles are horizontally arranged, with the bottom surface 108 of each container 102 placed on a surface 110 and the bottles placed adjacent to one another. In FIG. 3B, the nail polish bottles are vertically arranged, with the bottles placed on top of one another. In this vertically-arranged stack, the bottles may be oriented such that the covers of all of the bottles are aligned and the containers of all of the bottles are aligned. In such an example, the bottom surfaces 108 of each container may be directed in the same direction.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the bottles are attachable to one another. For example, in some embodiments, the bottles may be attachable to one another such that the user may move an entire stack of bottles (e.g., see FIGS. 3A and 3B) at the same time. As will be appreciated, the bottles in the stack are arranged to be attached to one another until the user detaches one or more bottles from one another. In such embodiments, the bottles are removably attachable to one another.

In some embodiments, the bottles are attachable to one another via one or more magnetic elements, such as one or more magnets, positioned on each bottle. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover of each bottle may include one or more magnets 112 a, 112 b arranged to attach a first bottle to a second bottle. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the cover may include a first magnet 112 a located on first side 114 a of the cover 106 and a second magnet 112 b located on a second, opposite side 114 b of the cover 106. In such embodiments, the first and second magnets 112 a, 112 b have different polarities. For example, the first magnet 12 a may have a negative polarity and the second magnet 112 b may have a positive polarity.

As shown in FIG. 5, the magnets may be arranged horizontally and extend along at least a portion of the cover. As shown in this figure, the magnets may be centered along a length L of the cover. The magnet also may be centered along a height H of the cover (see FIG. 4). For purposes herein, being centered with respect to the height or length of the cover means that the magnet is spaced equally between the top and bottom or between opposite ends of the cover. As will be appreciated, the magnets also may be located at other suitable positions on the cover. For example, the magnets may be positioned closer to the bottom of the cover than to the top of the cover.

Although a single magnet is shown on each side of the cover in these figures, it will be appreciated that the cover may have one or more magnets on each side. For example, each of the first and second sides may have two, three or more magnets on each side. As will be appreciated, the number of magnets on the first side need not be the same as the number of magnets on the second side. For example, the first side may have one longer magnet while the second side has two shorter magnets.

In embodiments in which each side of the cover has more than one magnet, the magnets may be arranged in any suitable manner. For example, the one or more magnets may be aligned horizontally between the first and second ends of the cover. The one or more magnets also may be aligned vertically between the top and bottom of each cover. The magnets also may be arranged in a circle, or in another suitable pattern.

Although the magnets are shown as being substantially rectangular in shape, it will be appreciated that the magnets may have any suitable shape and size. For example, the magnet may be circular, triangular, oval, other polygonal or other suitable shapes. Also, the magnets on each side of the cover need not have the same shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first side 114 a of the cover may have a single, longer, rectangular magnet 112 a while the second side 114 b has two, smaller, circular magnets 112 b.

Although the number, shape and size of the magnets may vary from side to side, in some embodiments, the one or more magnets on the first cover side are aligned with the one or more magnets on the second side. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the magnet 112 a on the first side is horizontally and vertically aligned with the magnet 112 b on the second side. For purposes herein, being vertically aligned means that the magnet on the first side is positioned the same distance from the top and bottom of the cover. In a similar fashion, being horizontally aligned means that the magnet on the first side is positioned the same distance from the first and second ends of the cover. As will be appreciated and as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the magnets on the first and second sides of the cover may still be vertically and horizontally aligned when there are different numbers of magnets on each side.

Although embodiments are described in which a first bottle is attachable to a second bottle via one or more magnets in each bottle, it will be appreciated that other suitable arrangements may be used to attach the bottles to one another. For example, at least a portion of each bottle, such as a portion of the cover of each bottle, may be made of a material that is ionized with magnetic particles. In such an embodiment, the ionizable material is considered to be a magnetic element. For example, a material including steel or iron may be used to form the cover or be positioned within the cover.

In some embodiments, the bottle may include a combination different magnetic elements. For example, in one embodiment, the a first side of the cover may be made of an ionizable material and the second side of the cover may have one or more magnets. In such an example, the ionizable material and one or more magnets may have different polarities.

In some embodiments, instead of magnetic attachment elements, the first bottle may have one or more clips, hooks or other fasteners that are attachable to corresponding clips, hooks or other fasteners on the second bottle. For example, in some embodiments, the covers of the first and second bottles may be attachable to one another via corresponding hook and loop fasteners. The first bottle also may have one or more protrusions that engage with one or more openings on the second bottle. In such arrangements, the bottles may be snap fit with one another. In these embodiments, the first and second bottles may be directly attached to one another. For example, the first cover may be directly attached to the second cover.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the cover includes an assembly including inner and outer cover members 116, 118. In some embodiments, the inner and outer cover members are permanently attached to one another. For example, the inner and outer cover members may be glued and/or otherwise permanently affixed to one another. For example, the inner and outer cover members may be joined via hot melt. The inner and outer members also may be press or snap fit to one another. In some embodiments, the inner cover member may include one or more outwardly directed ribs that engage with the outer cover member to secure the inner and outer cover members together.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the magnets may be sandwiched between the inner and outer cover members. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner cover member may include a channel 120 into which the magnets are disposed. In some embodiments, the magnets may be glued or otherwise affixed to the channels of the inner cover member 116 and/or to the outer cover member 118.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the cover 106 also includes an applicator 122 that is used to apply nail polish to the user's finger. In some embodiments, the distal end of the applicator 122 includes a brush 124 for applying nail polish. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the applicator 122 is attached to an applicator cover 126. In some embodiments, the applicator is threadably attached to the applicator cover. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the applicator cover 126 may include threads 128 that engage with the proximal end of the applicator cover. In such embodiments, the threads 128 on the applicator cover 126 also may engage with corresponding threads 130 on the container for the nail polish (see FIG. 9). The applicator also may be snap fit or press fit into a corresponding opening in the applicator cover.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7, the applicator cover is arranged to engage with the inner cover member 116. For example, the inner cover member 116 may include a channel 130 into which the applicator cover is received. In some embodiments, the applicator cover 126 may be removably attached to the cover 106. In such embodiments, the cover 106 may be snapped onto the applicator cover when the nail polish is being stored and thereafter removed when the nail polish is being used. In other embodiments, the applicator cover may be permanently attached to the cover, such as being permanently attached to the inner cover member 116).

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the bottles being attached to one another in a stacked arrangement. As shown in this view, the covers of each of the bottles are positioned adjacent to one another such that the magnet 112 b on the first bottle 100 a is aligned with and attracted to the magnet 112 a on the second, adjacent bottle 100 b. As will be appreciated, in such embodiments, the magnet 112 b on the first bottle has an opposite polarity to the magnet 112 a on the second 100 b bottle such that the magnets 112 a, 112 b are attracted to one another. As will be further appreciated, when the first and second magnets are attracted to each other, the first and second bottles are attached to one another. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, third and fourth bottles 100 c, 100 d may be attached to one another and to the stack, such as by aligning and positioning the covers of the third and fourth bottles next to one another and to the stack. In such embodiments, the magnets in the covers of the third and fourth bottles are attracted to one another and to the magnets of the adjacent covers of the bottles in the stack.

Although embodiment have been shown and described as having one or more nail polish bottles being attached to one another, magnets may be used to attach other cosmetic products to one another. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, magnets may be disposed in the covers of lipstick tubes 200. Magnets also may be used to attach mascara bottles or other bottles holding cosmetic products. As will be appreciated, in some embodiments, the bottles need not hold a liquid or be sealed. As will be further appreciated, magnets may be used to attach any receptacles together, such as a case, irrespective of what the receptacle is capable of holding. For example, the receptacle may be used to store liquids and/or solids that are not cosmetic materials. In some embodiments, the container may include any suitable vessel for holding a material. As with the bottle, the container need not hold a liquid and need not be sealed in some embodiments.

Although embodiments have been shown and described as having magnetic elements (e.g., magnets) in the cover to attach a first bottle to a second bottle, it will be appreciated that magnetic elements (e.g., magnets) may be disposed in both the cover and container and/or in only the container. In such embodiments, the magnetic elements (e.g., magnets) in the container may be used to attach the container of the first bottle to the container of the second bottle.

According to another embodiment, a method of attaching first and second bottles to one another is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes aligning and positioning a first bottle next to a second bottle. In such embodiments, aligning the first and second bottles includes aligning a first cover of the first bottle with a second cover of the second bottle. In some embodiments, aligning the first and second covers includes aligning one or more magnetic elements in the first cover with one or more magnetic elements in the second cover. In such embodiments, the one or more magnetic elements in the first cover have an opposite polarity as the one or more magnetic elements in the second cover. In some embodiments, the one or more magnetic elements in the first cover include one or more magnets. In some embodiments, the one or more magnetic elements in the second cover include one or more magnets. The one or more magnetic elements in the second cover also may include an ionizable material, such as a magnetic metal. In such embodiments, the second cover may be at least partially formed of the ionizable material. In some embodiments, the one or more magnetic elements in the first cover are attracted to the one or more magnetic elements in the second cover.

Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

Also, the invention may be embodied as a method, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A first bottle comprising: a first container adapted to hold a cosmetic product; and a first cover removably attached to the first container, wherein the first cover includes one or more magnetic elements arranged to attach the first cover of the first bottle to a cover of a second bottle.
 2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the one or more magnetic elements include one or more magnets.
 3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the first cover includes a first side and a second, opposite side.
 4. The bottle of claim 3, wherein the one or more magnetic elements include first and second magnets, wherein the first magnet is disposed in the first side of the cover and the second magnet is disposed in the second side of the cover.
 5. The bottle of claim 4, wherein the first and second magnets have opposite polarities.
 6. The bottle of claim 3, wherein the one or more magnetic elements includes first and second magnetic elements, the first magnetic element including a magnet disposed in the first side of the cover.
 7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the second magnetic element includes an ionizable material, the second side of the cover being at least partially formed of the ionizable material.
 8. The bottle of claim 7, wherein the ionizable material includes a magnetic metal.
 9. The bottle of claim 7, wherein the magnet and the ionizable material have opposite polarities.
 10. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising an applicator arranged to apply the cosmetic product to a wearer. 11-12. (canceled)
 13. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the cover includes inner and outer cover members.
 14. The bottle of claim 13, wherein the one or more magnetic elements include one or more magnets, the one or more magnets being sandwiched between the inner and outer cover members.
 15. The bottle of claim 14, wherein the one or more magnets are affixed to at least one of the inner and outer cover members.
 16. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the cover of the second bottle includes one or more magnetic elements.
 17. The first bottle of claim 1, in combination with the second bottle.
 18. An assembly comprising: a first receptacle having: a first container; and a first cover having one or more magnets; a second receptacle having: a second container; and a second cover having one or more magnetic elements; wherein the first receptacle is attachable to the second receptacle via the one or more magnets of the first cover and the one or more magnetic elements of the second cover.
 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the one or more magnetic elements of the second cover comprise a magnetic metal.
 20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the one or more magnetic elements of the second cover comprise a magnet.
 21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first cover comprises one or more magnetic elements on an opposite side of the cover as the one or more magnets.
 22. The assembly of claim 18, wherein, when the first and second receptacles are attached to one another, the first cover is oriented in the same direction as the second cover. 23-24. (canceled)
 25. A first bottle comprising: a first container; a cosmetic material disposed in the first container; and a first cover removably attached to the first container, wherein the first cover includes one or more magnetic elements arranged to attach the first cover of the first bottle to a cover of a second bottle. 26-30. (canceled) 